John Calipari's Coaching Style on Assistant Coaches

Interesting article from Rivals.com about Kentucky's new head coach John Calipari and his coaching style and style of his staff (timing appears coincidental with the allegations surrounding Memphis and Derrick Rose). The article contradicts itself somewhat -- assistant coach John Robic is apparently the only one responsible for all opponent scouting, yet somehow each coach will "have his fingerprints over every facet of the program from scouting to academics and beyond." But irregardless, in reading the article it had me thinking about assistant coaches and what their role should be on the team.

Do you have your assistants take notes or track stats throughout games? Do you divide up the players and assign specific assistants to do individual skill work? Do you have assistants break down film and cut up highlights for you? Do you work with your assistant coaches with the understanding that they will be head coaches someday? How do you evaluate your assistants performance?

Coach Cal appears to be a delegator who encourages independent thoughts. I'm not sure if that approach works in every single situation, especially if you have assistants who are a little wet behind the ears. But for a high-level college program, it probably does.

If you're looking for a comprehensive video on the dribble drive motion offense, check out Fran Fraschilla's DVD set on the Encyclopedia of the Dribble-Drive Motion Offense. The set includes 3 DVD's where Coach Fraschilla breaks down 3 different kinds of the dribble drive based on the different formations, 4-out, 3-out, and vs zone. Don't forget to check out the X's and O's Basketball Forum to talk hoops with other coaches.